Calendar of the week for May 5-11

published Friday, May 2, 2014

Auditions for “Bye Bye Birdie”: Drop-in 6-8 tonight and Tuesday, Elberton City Hall, 203 Elbert St. Encore Productions will hold auditions for its production of “Bye Bye Birdie.” Those interested need to prepare a short song selection and read excerpts from the script. Songs should be performed a capella, and no musical accompaniment will be used. Some dancing will be a part of the production, but not all characters cast will dance. www.elberttheatre.org.

Federation of Neighborhoods: 7 p.m., The Melting Point, 295 E. Dougherty St. Mayoral candidates Nancy Denson and Tim Denson will answer questions moderated by Tim Bryant of WGAU. Each candidate running unopposed will address the audience, and commissioner candidates from each district race will share the stage and field questions about their vision of Athens-Clarke County. Free. (706) 254-6909 or www.meltingpointathens.com.

Al-anon 12 step recovery meeting: Meetings are held daily in the Athens area for friends and families of people with addictions to drugs, alcohol and others; free; www.ga-al-anon.org or (478) 955-3422.

TUESDAY MAY 6

Domestic violence support group: 6-8 p.m., call for location. Dinner served at 6 p.m. Childcare provided. Meetings are held every Tuesday. For more information, call Project Safe at (706) 543-3331.

TOPS weight loss: 7 p.m., Government Annex Building, Hwy. 15, Watkinsville; Meetings are held each Tuesday. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a nonprofit support group for weight loss. Members can share challenges, successes, or goals, hear a brief program and discuss plans for the week. www.tops.org or (800) 932-8677.

Carol Barnett’s “The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass” performed by Athens Choral Society: 8 p.m., Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, University of Georgia Performing Arts Center, 230 River Road. The performance will combine a classical mass with the down-home harmonies of bluegrass. The concert will feature bluegrass instruments. Free admission. www.athenschoralsociety.com.

Crossroads Community Church Golf Tournament: Registration 8 a.m. and shot gun start 9 a.m., Highland Hills Golf Course, 1415 Bryant Park Road, Royston. Entry fee is $75 per player or $300 per team, includes lunch, 18 holes of golf, a golf car and range balls. Proceeds will go to support the church’s youth program and its week-long summer camp in Copperhill, Tenn., in June. To register, call (706) 296-5058 or www.crossroadsathens.com.

Candidate meet and greet and cookout: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hill Chapel Baptist Church, 1692 W. Hancock Ave. Attendees will have a chance to meet and ask questions of the candidates for local office. A cookout will be held on the church lawn. The church also will provide rides to the polls for individuals interested in voting on the only Saturday of this year’s early voting period. (706) 543-1377.

Garden Tea Party for Mom: 2-3:30 p.m., Sandy Creek Nature Center, 205 Old Commerce Road. Guests will create decorations to take home and make appetizers and drinks using local foods. Wear your garden party best. Cost is $7 for an Athens-Clarke County resident and $10 for non-residents. Pre-registration required by May 8 by calling (706) 613-3615.

12th annual Madison Chamber Music Festival: 3:30 p.m., Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, 434 S. Main St,, Madison. The afternoon will start 3:30 p.m. with a State Farm bike safety talk and bike parade. Participants can decorate their bike and compete for “Most Musical” and “Most Madison.” A concert 4 p.m. by Brooklyn Rider String Quartet and an old-fashioned ice cream social on the front lawn will follow. Free. www.mmcc-arts.org.

Shimmy Mob and Hafla for Project Safe: 7:30 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens, 780 Timothy Road. Athens belly dancers will join dancers around the world to promote World Belly Dance Day and to raise awareness and funds for domestic abuse victims’ shelters. In Athens, the event will feature light refreshments and performances of Middle Eastern and world dance by local and regional dancers. All proceeds will benefit Project Safe. Tickets are $5 in advance, $8 at the door. Children ages 5 and younger enter free. For more information, visit www.shimmymob.com. For local information, email rajniqamar@gmail.com.

“A Night at the Opera” performed by The Meridian Women’s Chorus: 8 p.m., Day Chapel, State Botanical Garden of Georgia, 2450 S. Milledge Ave. Guest soloists, Megan Brunning, Avery Draut, and Even Tyor will present iconic arias and duets, such as “O mio babbino caro,” the Queen of the Night’s aria, Figaro’s aria, and the Flower Duet from Lakmé. Free admission, but donations to The Meridian Women’s Chorus accepted. (706) 549-6229.

SUNDAY MAY 11

Mother’s Day Concert with Brooklyn Rider String Quartet: Dinner 5 p.m., concert 6:45 p.m., Town 220 Restaurant. Guests will enjoy dinner and hear the quartet as it presents a varied program, including “The Five Legged Cat,” a special commissioned work for the Amelia Island and Madison Chamber Music Festivals by Venezuelan composer Gonzalo Grau. Dinner reservations required by calling (706) 752-1445. The buffet dinner is $30. Tickets can be purchased by calling Town 220 Restaurant. Concert tickets are $25 and can be purchased through the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center. www.mmcc-arts.org.